Rise of the Dark Side: How Sleep Perception Triggers Dark Triad States at Work

Abstract

Although there has been a growing interest in studying the dark side of personality among working individuals, studies have predominantly focused on dark triad traits. However, to understand when employees turn to their dark side, it is crucial to gain insights into the specific factors that trigger dark triad states. Because the ability to regulate one's behavior in part relies upon periods of rest and recovery, impaired sleep might play a crucial role in understanding why and when dark triad expressions occur at work. Using a 10-day experience sampling method (ESM) design among 103 employees (Nrepeated observations = 786), the current study tested (i) the within-person relationship between sleep perception (sleep quality and quantity) and dark triad states and (ii) whether distress tolerance mediates this relationship. The results indicate negative associations between sleep quality/quantity and each of the dark triad states. Moreover, distress tolerance partly mediates the relationship between sleep perception and overall dark triad states. These findings suggest that sleep-deficient employees are more prone to exhibit dark traits, contributing to insights on mitigating such expressions in the workplace.